FAQs

What is Preeclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP syndrome?Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting at least 5-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. Swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision are important symptoms; however, some women with rapidly advancing disease report few symptoms.

Typically, preeclampsia occurs after 20 weeks gestation (in the late 2nd or 3rd trimesters or middle to late pregnancy) and up to six weeks postpartum (after delivery), though in rare cases it can occur earlier than 20 weeks. Proper prenatal care is essential to diagnose and manage preeclampsia. Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH) and toxemia are outdated terms for preeclampsia. HELLP syndrome and eclampsia (seizures) are other variants of preeclampsia.

The Preeclampsia Foundation is a federally registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax ID# 91-2073087. Your contribution is deductible to the full extent as permitted by law. For more information, visit www.preeclampsia.org.

Collecting Donations

Q: Someone gave me a check/cash for my walk team. What do I do with it? First of all, don't forget to encourage your family and loved ones to give online directly through your individual fundraising page. It's easy and secure. But we also know sometimes donations come in via check, so we've made it super easy to send in donations you collect! Download our Donation Collection Formthen fill it out and send it in with the checks that you've collected to our home office at 6905 N. Wickham Road Suite 302, Melbourne, FL 32940. Our staff team will input those donations with credit toward your fundraising total as soon as they arrive and help your little pink feet move!

Q: Do I have to have a fundraising page for every member of my team? The www.promisewalk.org website is set up so that every member of your team has the option to fundraise and their own unique URL. Obviously, it is not required that every participant use their page, but it is there in case they or you want to use it! That's why we require a separate username and password for EACH participant.We encourage you to make sure each adult member of your team uses a unique email address so we can encourage them to get involved. (You can use your own email address for participants under 18.)Q: Is fundraising required to participate in the event? Can I just donate and participate? No, fundraising is not required. However, the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia is a fundraising event, so we'd like everyone to either make a personal donation or ask others to donate to help moms and babies. We can't fight preeclampsia without you!

Q: Are there prizes for fundraising? Absolutely! We love to thank you for all that you do! Read more on our blog.

Registration

Q: Are there registration fees to participate in a Promise Walk for Preeclampsia? A. Signing up for the Promise Walk is completely free! We ask that you make a personal donation and/or fundraise to help moms and babies. That's right, there is NO barrier for you, your family or your friends to come out and support a GREAT cause. Instead, we are asking that you:

Register early.

Customize your individual and team donation pages with your story.

Make a meaningful gift to your own team.

Ask friends and family to make a donation to you and your team.

Show off your status as a VIP supporter through our awesome incentive items!

The Promise Walk is a fundraiser, and the dollars you help to raise are the means by which we make a difference in the lives of moms, dads, babies and the families that are affected by hypertension in pregnancy. Our end goal? A world where preeclampsia no longer threatens the lives of moms and babies. For more details on how your donation dollars are used, you can visit the Preeclampsia Foundation's Finance page.Some Promise Walk for Preeclampsia events also have certified 5K runs scheduled on the same day and location. A registration fee is required to sign up for events with a 5K run.

Q: Do I have to register my toddler/infant/child? A: Please do! By registering your children, you let us know how many kids will be on site to access the kids' activities our local walk coordinators have planned. This is definitely a family-centric event so we welcome and encourage all ages of participants to attend.

Q: How do I get a t-shirt? A: We are excited to provide two options for T-shirts this year. The first is a complimentary T-Shirt for early registrants in 2018 that register and raise $100 by January 31st, 2018. In addition, you will have the option of a Team T-Shirt available for purchase by our Team Captains! Not only will your team get more choice of sizes (including ladies' fit, adult, youth, toddler and infant sizes) and colors, but the continuing program means that you can have your team's name customized in the font of your choice on the back of the shirt. What a great way to show your Promise Walk team spirit!

Early registration T-Shirts can be picked up on walk day when you check-in upon arrival. Team T-shirts will be shipped to you in advance of the walk, so you can start much earlier in showing off proudly what an important part of our mission you are! Orders and payment must be processed on the HeadsUp Apparel website 4 weeks before your walk event date to ensure production and shipping time. Plus, the proceeds from the shirts will also directly benefit your local Promise Walk event!

Our new shirt program is a badge of honor and recognition to the work of you and your team for this cause: the brave women, men and children, who are out there sharing your stories and educating others through the work you do to support the walk. We want these shirts to be something that you and the rest of your team want to wear over and over again to raise even greater awareness of preeclampsia's impact in your community. By moving the shirt to a purchase option, you also help us refocus the dollars we formerly spent on t-shirts back on our primary mission of education, research and awareness.

Q: What does a Team Captain do?A: As a Team Captain, you are vital to the success of our local walks! On www.promisewalk.org, a Team Captain defaults to the person who started the team. You have the ability to edit the team page and set a fundraising goal. You can also email all of your team members for things like fundraising encouragement and strategizing, planning race-day festivities, encouraging team mates to bring a friend or to host a fundraiser! To get you started, here's a Team Captain's Welcome Guide with great tips on how to be the best team in the nation!

Photography

Q: How will photos taken on the day of the walk be used?A: All participants of the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia are required to sign a photo waiver that allows the Preeclampsia Foundation to use photos from the event for promotional purposes only. Photos of you and your team will not be sold, traded or used in any other way than to showcase the Promise Walk event and the mission of the Preeclampsia Foundation through pre-approved communication channels. If at any time you have a question about how a photo is used, please contact our home office at info@preeclampsia.org.

Walk Day

Q. What if there is inclement weather?Most Promise Walks take place rain or shine, so make sure to check the weather beforehand and plan accordingly. Should severe weather interrupt our ability to safely host the event, we will make arrangements to hold the event at another location or date.

Q. How far is the Promise Walk?Most walks are about 3 miles long, although they can range from one to five miles. Some have shorter routes for families and children that want to walk, but may not be able to complete a longer route. Walk paths are chosen for their stroller-friendly routes, so we both encourage and welcome all ages of supporters!

Q. What should I wear to the Promise Walk?The Promise Walk is an outdoor event, so dress casually and wear comfortable shoes, but make sure to check the weather beforehand so you can dress appropriately.

Q. Can I bring my dog to the event?Please select the "Locations" dropdown menu on this page, select your event and find the contact information for your local walk coordinator. Requirements concerning pets vary from site-to-site.